If you’re looking at the national search sites like Niche, you’re right, they are pretty much a raffle with almost no chance of winning. Unless you can find one that has better odds (on Sallie Mae my DD found one specifically for graphic design, that gives out a few hundred scholarships and won one).
Your better bet is to apply to the local ones- like the Lion’s Club or Optimists in your town. Your GC should have a list. Here, most of those put out their applications around the first of the year. Still no guarantees but the odds are better.
Also, find schools that give automatic merit for your stats. This is a much bigger deal than a few small local one-time scholarships.
Finally, once you are in school, find out if your college has endowed scholarships for continuing students that you can apply to every year.